Things to do on a rainy day with kids in Liverpool and beyond

Entertaining schoolkids can be harder when it is pouring down outside.

But the bad weather should not stop families heading out and enjoying their day with their children. There are so many things to do with kids and places to take them in Liverpool and beyond on a rainy day.

These can be educational, fun and a way for kids to let off some steam. Our list includes a variety of ideas, from museums and competitive activities for all the family.

READ MORE: New and exciting events and activities for the May half-term holidays

READ MORE: Upside down house arrives in Liverpool ONE

There are also places further afield, too, in case you're fancying a day trip outside of the city.

Ninja Warrior course

Adventure seekers can expect to encounter duelling podiums, as well as tackle the famous Warped Wall and obstacles. These courses are not for the faint-hearted, although unlike on the show, people trying out the course won't soaked if they fall.

Where: Unit L3, New Mersey Retail Park Speke, Speke Rd, Speke, Liverpool L24 8QB

Upside Down House

Let your imagination run wild and try the unique photo experience that defies gravity. Visitors will also be able to explore exclusive rooms to Liverpool including the clouds of Candy Land and to play a retro Pac-Man arcade game.

Where: Liverpool ONE, Thomas Steers Way

Little Acorns

Little Acorns of Formby is a soft play centre and sensory room designed for children under the age of five. There is also a cafe which has a range of food and drink available to purchase.

Tickets for one child and one adult is £8, with a range of add-ons available.

Where: Redgate, Formby, L37 4EN

Bounce Tots

Bounce Tots in Speke is run by a a qualified coach for pre-school children (0-four years). The class is designed to help enhance infants early stage motor-skill development through exposure to new body movements, sights, sounds and touch in a fun and safe gymnastic environment.

Parents can book online and enjoy some time with their tots.

Where: Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, Viscount Centre, Gaskill Road, Hunts Cross, L24 9GS

Kidzcove

This is an under fives-only play area. At Kidzcove there are sand pits, messy play, homes corner, roll play area and sensory corner.

There is also a story corner, ball out, bouncy castle and slide for children to enjoy. Food and drink is available for both children and parents if they need a break from all the play.

Where: Unit 5, Cheshire Lines, 100 Sefton Lane, L31 8BT

The Storybarn

The Storybarn is a multi-purpose family space at The Reader’s home in Calderstones Park.

Perfectly positioned in the heart of the park (and crucially, next to the Ice Cream Parlour), the Storybarn is a one-of-a-kind reading retreat for children and their grown-ups. Little ones can let their imaginations run wild, discovering new stories to share, and taking part in unique experiences, alongside arts and crafts.

The Storybarn is where you’ll find Tiny Acorns, Incy Wincy Rhymers, Storybarn School Holiday Club and Open House, as well as lots of other seasonal events.

Where: The Storybarn, Calderstones Park, L18 3JB

Farmer Ted's

Farmer Ted’s is more than just a farm - it's an interactive children's activity park on a working farm between Formby and Ormskirk on Flatman's Lane.

Highlights include pony grooming, a Guinea Pig Village, ferret racing, the Mini Beast Centre, first-ever and outdoor and indoor adventure play areas. There's even a go-kart track, sandpit and tractor rides around the farm. You can grab a bite to eat in the restaurant. Farmer Ted's is also home to the UK's first ever permanent Shaun the Sheep farm attraction.

Where: Worrall House Farm Larder, Flatman's Lane, Ormskirk L39 7HW

Family and Friends Playcentre

This is a unique indoor space in Prescot dedicated to 0 to five-year-olds. The playroom is designed for a safe enjoyment where children have the freedom to run, jump and explore.

There is also contemporary drinks area where parents can get a well-earned coffee.

Where: Prescot Gospel Hall, Evans Street, Prescot, L34 6HU

Gravity MAX

The monster entertainment facility is located on the top floor of the former Debenham's building, accessible from behind The Clubhouse and the shopping complex's second-level stairs. It is free to enter, allowing guests to take a look at one of the many electrifying experiences, arcade machines or activities spread across the venue.

The facility is spread across two floors covering 100,000 square feet, with a capacity of 2,500. It also boasts Liverpool's newest and biggest rooftop terrace, four bars and a food hall.

Where: Chavasse Park, Liverpool L1 3DF

Little Legends

Little Legend’s Playhouse is an under fives play centre and café. The play area has lots of different activities, including a soft play climbing frames, role play areas and a dedicated baby area.

There is also have a sensory room filled with lots of different sensory equipment to help aid play and development. The sensory room is also the space used to host baby and toddler classes provided by both Little Legend’s Playhouse and also outside baby and toddler classes such as Moo Music.

Where: 2 High Street, Prescot, L34 3LD

Baby cinema

Parents and their babies can enjoy a film together at Showcase Cinemas and grab tickets for just £5.50.

The screenings, which take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am, give parents and guardians the chance to experience the latest blockbusters in an environment comfortable for their newborns. To create the perfect atmosphere for a baby, adjustments are made to the screenings which include soft lighting levels, lowered film volumes, a dedicated area for prams and free movement around the auditorium.

Jon Dixon, UK Marketing Director at Showcase Cinemas, said: “We want to make sure that new parents don’t miss out on seeing the latest films and can enjoy the big screen environment. Our Baby Cinema screenings are a great way to allow parents to sit back, relax and be entertained by the latest releases, while ensuring it is a comfortable and supportive environment for their baby.”

Where: Nationwide

The Beatles Story

Journey through the Fab Fours' rise to fame with this entertaining insight into the band's life which includes an audio tour narrated by John Lennon's sister, Julia.

There's always something for the kids to do in the Discovery Zone including free workshops during half term and school holidays. Learn about the Beatles' lives, times, music and influential legacy using interactive screens and our giant piano.

Where: Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool.

Imagine That

Imagine That activity centre has plenty to keep the kids entertained, including arts and crafts, science workshops - including slime making - and a large Imagination Village.

The Imagination Village has shops, an American diner and theatre, a pet rescue and a car wash, allowing children to have a go at being a variety of things.

Where: Imagine That, 26-32 Faraday Road, Wavertree, L13 1EH.

Splash Art

Kids can run rampant at creative painting facility Splash Art which includes a dart art game and a spin art experience with an opportunity to blast each other in the dark with neon paint-filled guns. Everybody also leaves with two canvases each.

If you want to enjoy all the benefits of painting, making a mess, and letting your creativity loose without any of the clean-up, Splash Art is the place to be.

Where: 78 Duke St, Liverpool L1 5AA

Awesome Walls

Awesome Walls in Liverpool can be found in a former 150-year-old church with over 1,000 square metres of climbing with hundreds of routes. Whether you're an absolute beginner wanting to learn how to climb or an experienced outdoor climber Awesome Walls has lots to offer.

Where: St Albans Church, Athol Street, Liverpool.

Merseyside Maritime Museum

The Merseyside Maritime Museum has all sorts of exhibits about the social and commercial history of the port of Liverpool.

Highlights include ship models, maritime paintings, colourful posters from the golden age of liners and even some full sized vessels. The Seized exhibition also offers hands-on fun for kids and there are plenty of events on for kids to do including visiting The Piermaster's House which is open daily 10am to 4.30pm.

Where: Albert Dock, Liverpool.

World Museum

The World Museum in Liverpool is an ideal day out for the family with plenty to see, do and get your hands-on including different events.

The museum has extensive collections covering world cultures, sciences, animals and bugs. With everything from dinosaur exhibits and aquariums to sections about Ancient Egypt, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Where: World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool.

International Slavery Museum

Housed on the third floor of the Merseyside Maritime Museum, there are lots of events and workshops at the International Slavery Museum to take part in.

Here, your children can hear the untold stories of enslaved people and learn about historical and contemporary slavery.

Where: International Slavery Museum, Dock Traffic Office, Albert Dock.

Tate Liverpool

There are lots of things to see and do at Tate, so try different things each time.

Under 12s can visit any special exhibition for free if they are with an adult. Collection displays change regularly, so you won't see the same things year after year.

There's also family-friendly activities such as puppet making workshops and sculpture making sessions. Along with this, the gallery offers families Rocket Backpacks filled with a number of arty activities, just collect one from the foyer.

Where: Albert Dock, Liverpool.

New Palace & Adventureland

Take a ride out to New Brighton in Wirral for fun and games at this indoor arcade and children's adventure and soft play centre.

You'll also find a bouncy castle, ball pond and climbing wall plus an outside fairground at New Palace and Adventureland. There's also a separate disco room with music smoke and laser lighting, a football area to shoot and score goals and giant inflatables including a huge bouncy rainbow slide and a ship being wrestled by a giant octopus.

You'll have lots of fun in the big, bright and colourful amusement arcade too.

Where: New Palace & Adventureland, Marine Promenade, New Brighton.

Croxteth Hall

There is plenty to see at Croxteth Hall from a working farm to some gorgeous flowers in the Victorian walled garden or learn how the Earls of Sefton, their families and servants, lived in the hall in Edwardian times. There is also various events on throughout the year.

When the weather is nice, check out the local wildlife and explore woodlands, pastures and ponds in Croxteth Local Nature Reserve.

Where: Off Muirhead Avenue East, Liverpool

The World of Glass

Try your hand at being a sculptor at The World of Glass in St Helens and watch expect glass blowers create some fantastic pieces.

The contemporary and innovative building houses the history of the glass industry and allows you walk back in time through its two galleries to the world of St Helens during the Victorian times.

After you have had the chance to soak in all the history, you can enjoy something to eat and drink at St Helen’s only canal-side café

Where: Chalon Way East, St Helens.

Hollywood Bowl

You can't beat a few games of ten-pin bowling to while a way a few hours on a rainy afternoon.

Hollywood Bowl has amusements too, so if you get tired of throwing a ball you can take to the wheel and go head-to-head on the latest racing games, or try and get your score to the top of the arcade leader boards, or even challenge members of your family to the incredibly fast paced ‘Pacman Smash’

Where: Edge Lane Retail Park, Montrose Way, Wavertree, L13 1EW

Velocity Inflatable Park

Work up a sweat and have some fun bouncing at Velocity Inflatable Park.

The park has transformed from an indoor trampoline park to the UK's biggest indoor inflatable arena spanning 15,000 square feet. The inflatable park features two extreme drop slides, a giant slide into the UK’s largest ball pool, a gladiator arena with podiums to battle from, high climbing wall and Total Wipeout style giant bouncing balls.

There is also a dedicated arena for under fours which includes a slide and a ball pool. There’s also a large and spacious café to watch the kids having fun while enjoying a coffee and a snack or try the full menu for hot food and cold drinks.

Where: Unit 1, Easter Park, Bennetts Lane, Shell Green, Widnes

Planet Ice

Show off your ice skating skills on the rink at Planet Ice in Widnes. There are various events on during the week including family skate, disco skate and parent and toddler skate.

They often have special offers on during school holidays.

Where: The Hive, Earle Road, Widnes WA8 0TA

Blue Planet Aquarium

Visit the Blue Planet Aquarium and get up close to sharks, starfish and seahorses. Take an all access tour or see animals including otters being fed.

There's so much to do with daily talks and shows in the Aquatheatre that are bound to keep all of the family entertained.

Where: Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire Oaks, Cheshire

Lane7

Lane7 in Liverpool offers fun for all the family, as the venue has bowling alleys, arcade games, American Pool and more, making it the perfect place for some competitive fun on a rainy day.

There's also a bar selling a variety of drinks to quench your thirst in between games. During half term and school holidays, the venue often has offers for families.

Where: Clayton Square, Cases St, Liverpool L1 1QR

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